New York statute
N.Y. Penal Law § 35.25 — Justification; use of physical force to prevent or terminate larceny or criminal mischief
Current through 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)
Part of Article 35: Defense of Justification, New York Penal Law.
Full text of N.Y. Penal Law § 35.25
Statutory text current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17). This publication reproduces the text of the Consolidated Laws of New York as provided by the New York State Senate's Open Legislation service (Legislative Bill Drafting Commission statutory text); it is not the official statutes of the State of New York.
35.25 Justification; use of physical force to prevent or terminate
larceny or criminal mischief.
A person may use physical force, other than deadly physical force,
upon another person when and to the extent that he or she reasonably
believes such to be necessary to prevent or terminate what he or she
reasonably believes to be the commission or attempted commission by such
other person of larceny or of criminal mischief with respect to property
other than premises.
Official sources
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This reference is informational and is not legal advice.